Mop holder having a universally adjustable handle



March 1968 H. E. OTTENSMEIER Filed Nov. 16, 1964 MOP HOLDER HAVING A UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE HANDLE WI A'A Id'. #4204050773149145/56,

. 5y Z5 M United States Patent 3,371,366 MOP HOLDER HAVING A UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE HANDLE Harold E. Ottensmeier, 14109 Ardis Sh, Bellilower, Calif. 90706 Filed Nov. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 411,248 2 Claims. (Cl. 15144) My invention relates to improvements in a mop holder, and particularly its application to a type permitting a mop, broom or brush to be removably attached to a bracket and handle assembly; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a novel type of mop holder permitting the mop to be used with its full eificiency with a minimum effort on the part of the user; second, to provide a mop holder permitting the replacement of mops, brooms and brushes while retaining the mop holder; third, to provide a mop holder which is so constructed and arranged as to permit swivel action in four directions by simple manipulation of the mop handle; and fourth, to provide a mop holder which permits the efiortless use of the mop and may be inexpensively manufactured and maintained.

Additional objects, together with further advantages derived in using the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, in which FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view holder;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of my mop holder;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of my mop holder taken on line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of my mop holder taken on line 4-4 of FIG- URE 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My invention comprises a substantially rectangular base plate, 10, having two transverse slots, 11, 12, placed a predetermined distance apart and centered on said plate, 10.

A U-shaped bracket, 13, is disposed under said base plate, its free arms extending through the slots, 11, 12, above said base plate.

An inverse U-shaped bracket, 14, is pivotally attached to the U-shaped bracket, 13, by means of bolts, 15, 16, extending through openings provided in the U-shaped bracket and inverse U-shaped bracket and aligned horizontally with each other. The bolts, 15, 16, mount the bracket, 14, for pivotal movement with respect to the base plate, 10, along a horizontal axis.

The center portion, 17, of the bracket, 14, is bent or twisted as a right angle to extend transversely to the adjacent portions of the bracket, 14, and to extend radially with respect to the axis of the pivotal movement of the bracket, 14. The bracket, 14, is preferably formed by stamping or other suitable means, so that the center portion, 17, is an integral part of the bracket, 14. The center portion, 17, is provided with an opening, 18, in the center thereof.

Two extensions, 19, 29, have flattened lower ends which are pivotally attached to the center portion, 17, of the inverse U-shaped bracket, 14, by means of a pivot bolt, 21, extending through the opening, 18. The pivot bolt, 21, mounts the extensions, 19, 20, on a horizontal axis of pivotal movement with respect to the bracket, 14, which is transverse to the horizontal axis of pivotal movement of the bracket, 14, with respect to the base plate, 10.

The upper portion of the extensions has two sets of openings, 22, 23, disposed in vertical alignment one set above the other.

of my mop ice A handle, 35, is inserted between the extensions and held rigidly in position by suitable bolts extending through the set of openings, 22, 23, provided for that purpose.

The horizontal portion of the U-shaped bracket has two openings, vertically aligned with corresponding openings in the base plate, 10, and bolts, 28, 29, extend from the U-shaped bracket to a predetermined distance above the base plate and may be adjusted depending upon the thickness of the mop, 30, disposed between the U-shaped bracket, 13, and the base plate, 10.

In operation the mop, 30, is placed about the U-shaped bracket, 13, and the bolts, 28, 29, extending from the U-shaped bracket, 13, through the base plate, 10, are tightened to fix the mop in position.

A four directional or universal swivel action of the handle with respect to the mop holding means is provided by the double pivotal relationship between the handle, 35, or" the base plate, 10.

As shown by phantom lines in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the handle, 35, may be freely pivoted along a horizontal axis of pivotal movement defined by the pivot bolt, 21.

As shown by phantom lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the handle, 35, may also be freely pivoted along a transverse horizontal axis of pivotal movement. When the handle, 35, is moved in such transverse direction, it causes the bracket, 14, to pivot with it on the horizontal axis of pivotal movement defined by the bolts, 15, 16.

These two pivotal movements of the handle, 35, with respect to the base plate, 10, and mop, 30, are automatically combined to provide free universal or four directional swivel action of the handle with respect to the mop holding means by simple manipulation of the handle in any direction or angle desired by the user. The swivel action is comparable in result to that offered by a ball and socket connection.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that all of the parts used in my device other than standard hardware are so simple in structure that they can be formed economically by stamping and my device is accordingly simple and economical to manufacture.

While I have described specific forms of my invention, it is understood that the same may be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mop holder, a substantailly flat base plate, means for attaching a mop to said base plate, an inverse U-shaped bracket disposed above said base plate, the opposite ends of said bracket being pivotally mounted with respect to said base plate on a pair of spaced bolts defining a horizontal axis of pivotal movement, said bracket having an integrai center portion twisted at a right angle to extend radially with respect to the axis of pivotal movement of said bracket, a pair of extensions having flattened lower ends extending on opposite sides of and parallel to said twisted center portion, a pivot member extending through said flattened ends and through said center portion of said bracket to mount said extensions on a horizontal axis of pivotal movement transverse to the axis of pivotal movement of said bracket, and a handle secured to the upper ends of said extensions, whereby manipulation of said handle provides universal swivel action of said handle with respect to said base plate.

2. In a mop holder, a substantially fiat base plate, means for attaching a mop to said base plate, an inverse -shaped bracket disposed above said base plate, the opposite ends of said bracket being pivotally mounted with respect to said base plate along a horizontal axis of pivotal movement, said bracket having an integral center portion twisted at a right angle to extend radially with respect to the axis of pivotal movement of said bracket, a

handle disposed above said bracket, and a pivot member 2,060,012 11/1936 Baker 15--229.2 connecting the lower end of said handle to said center 2,193,571 3/1940 Siemund 15144 portion of said bracket on a horizontal axis of pivotal 2,899,225 8/1959 Birr 15-144.1 X movement transverse to the axis of pivotal movement of 3,105,258 10/1963 Lopez 15119.1 said bracket, whereby manipulation of said handle pro- 5 3,339,220 9/1967 Barry 15144.1 XR vides universal swivel action of said handle with respect FOREIGN PATENTS to said base plate.

335,033 3/1921 Germany. References Switzerland. UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 11,224 1906 Great Britaln.

1,278,074 9/ 1918 Phelps 15-172 X DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 1,508,941 9/1924 Severns 15-2292 

2. IN A MOP HOLDER, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BASE PLATE MEANS FOR ATTACHING A MOP TO SAID BASE PLATE, AN INVERSE U-SHAPED BRACKET DISPOSED ABOVE SAID BASE PLATE, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BRACKET BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE PLATE ALONG A HORIZONTAL AXIS OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT, SAID BRACKET HAVING AN INTEGRAL CENTER PORTION TWISTED AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO EXTEND RADIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BRACKET, A HANDLE DISPOSED ABOVE SAID BRACKET, AND A PIVOT MEMBER CONNECTING THE LOWER END OF SAID HANDLE TO SAID CENTER PORTION OF SAID BRACKET ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BRACKET, WHEREBY MANIPULATION OF SAID HANDLE PROVIDES UNIVERSAL SWIVEL ACTION OF SAID HANDLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE PLATE. 